Electric cigar lighter



Sept. 6, 1938. A. A. JOHNSON ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Aug. 17, 1934IN. VENT 0R Patented Sept. 6, 1938 PATENT "OFFICE 2,129,374 I mc'mrcCIGAR mama Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to AutomaticDevices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of ConnecticutApplication August 17. 1934,8eriai No. mimic a Claim (01; 219-32) Thisinvention relates to electric cigar-lighters, and is concernedparticularly with the type of cigar-lighter in which the igniting unitis completely separable and removable from a holding 6 device or basefor use.

With such cigar-lighters, the igniting unit is mounted in or on aholdingdevice and'has' a normal position thereon, wherein an electriccincuit including the heating element is interrupted.

To bring the igniting unit to incandescence for use, it is movedrelatively to the holding device to close the circuit, and upon becomingincandescent the igniting unit is removed and the incandescent heatingelement is applied to the end of a cigar or cigarette to ignite thesame.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to latch the igniting unit inenergizing position and retain it so until the heating element is readyfor use. For this purpose, a bimetallic latch was employed on 0'theholding device and in heat-conducting relation with the heatingelement so as to become inoperative when the heating element became hotenough for use, at which time means, usually spring means, becameeffective to move the igniting unit out of energizing position.

7 An object of the present invention is to improve this type ofcigar-lighter to make it more accurately responsive to the temperatureof the heating element, and to this end the present invention providesthe bimetallic andthermal responsive latch on the igniting unit ratherthan on the holding device, so that heat from the-latter is more quicklyand accurately transmitted to the bimetallic latch than was possiblewith the latter mounted on the holding device.

With the heat-controlled cigar-lighters heretofore suggested, should thebimetallic latches become inoperativeor otherwise fail to perform theirintended functions, it was necessary to remove the holding device whichis usually mounted in a permanent position, as, for instance, on thedashboard of an automobile, and substitute a new holding device with aproperly functioning thermostatic catch. With the device of the presentinvention, wherein the thermostatic catch is carried by the ignitingunit, shouldthe catch fail to function properly, a new igniting unit maybe substituted for the old. 60 According to the present invention, thethermostaticcatch may be mounted on any convenient or suitable portionof the igniting unit, but preferably it is mounted on the heatingelement itself, a

and since the heating element is removably 56 mounted on the body of theigniting unit, should the thermostatic catch become out of order, it ismerely necessary, to discard the old heating element and substitute anew one, thus saving the replacement of the igniting unit as a whole.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter 5 appear.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is alongitudinal sectional view ofone form of the cigar-lighter of the present invention,

' showing the igniting unit supported in its normal 1o non-energizingposition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the ignitim unit in energizingposition. Fig. 3 is an end view of the igniting unit show in Figs. 1 and2. 15

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the igniting unit. The type ofcigar-lighter shown in the accompanying drawing is that having. atube-like holding device or base member ID adapted to extend through anaperture in a support, as, for instance, 20 the instrumentaboard ll ofan automobile. The end of the tube ID has threads l2 and on the portionthereof which extends beyond the instrument board ll there is provided athreaded disk l3 having a flange H for engaging the end of the g5 shellIll. On the rear side of the instrumentboard the threaded portion l2carries a nut l! which, upon beingtighteneiclamps the instrument boardbetween itself and the threaded disk I3. At its rearend, the holder-tubeID has an 30 inwardly extending. flange lion which is secured a disk l'lhaving a boss Ill. The boss l8 has an insulator sleeve l9 through whichextends a screw 20, the head of which holds a contact disk 2|inplacewithin the shell Ill. The contact disk1 35 2| is insulated fromthe-disk H by an insulating washer 22. The outer end of the screw 20carries nuts 22 between which a terminal 24 of a current supply wire 25is secured. The innernut 23 is insulated from the end of the boss l8byan insu- 40 lating washer 26.

Thus it will be seen that theshell I0 is mechanically and, electricallyconnected to the in-' 4 strument board H which is usually connected toHone side of a current supply battery by a. ground 45 and that thecontact disk 2! "is insulated from the shell l0 and is normally alive,being. connected with the current supply wire 25.

vAs in this typeof cigar-lighter, the igniting unit of the presentinvention fits the shell l0 and is slid into the shell to be supportedthereby in normal inactive position. In the form of the invention hereinshown, the igniting unit comprises a body portion made up of a tubularportion 21 and a knobportion 28, either of which may be made 01' metalor insulating material, as desiredthe portion 21 being shown as made ofnonmetallic material while the portion 28 is shown as made 01 metal.

At the inner end of the body of the igniting unit, there is removablymounted a heating element 29. This comprises a plug-like portion 30which is screw-threaded into the inner end of the tubular portion 21,and mounted on the portion 30 is a resistance coil II, which, upon beingbrought to incandescence, is applied to the end 0! a cigar or cigaretteto ignite the same. 'As indicated in Fig. 3, the heating coil is in theform of a-ribbon spirally wound and has its inner end secured to a stud32, while its outer end is hastened to a cupped disk It and is inmetallic and electrical contact therewith and secured to the portion 30by the stud 82 but. insulated therefrom. The inner end of the cuppeddisk 33 has a flange 34 located in alignment with a flange ll of thecontact disk 2|. Hence, when the igniting unit is moved from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the flange 34 engagesthe -Die II and current is conducted through the part 33 to the outerend oi! the heating coil, and from thence through the coil to the stud32 and plug-like portion I0 01' the heating element.

Normally, the portion ll is out 01' electrical .en-

gagement with the shell ill, but when the igniting I unit is moved fromthe position shown in Fig. 1'

In the term of the invention shown herein, this is accomplished byproviding on the heating element 22 a bimetallic strip ll, the ends ofwhich are bent so as to form detents 38. The strip 3| is provided with acentral apertured portion through which the stud tg'extends and is heldin place in contact with the"cupped disk ll which carriesthe. heatingelement.

When the igniting unit is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 tothat shown in Fig. 2, the

detent portions l. of the strip I! snap over the flange 35 on the ntactdisk 2| and thus retain the heating element and igniting unit in theposition shown in Fig. 2, against the tendency of a spring ll engaging-aflange on a sleeve II on the other side to return the igniting unit tononenergizing position. The sleeve II has a flange l2 engaging the diski1 3 so that when the igniting unit is pushed inui me position shown inFig. 2, the spring 0 is.compressed.

During the heating oi the resistance coll, 'the heat is conductedthrough the cupped disk ll to the bimetallic strip II, and when theheating element. becomes incandescent the expansion oi the bimetallicstrip is such that the detent portions 3| move from the positions shownin iull-lines in Fig. 4 to those shown in dotted lines, with the resultthat the flange ll of the contact disk has disengaged and thespring 40is allowed to return the 'eating element and igniting unit to thepositiof shown in Fig. 1,at which time the igniting unit is removed fromthe device by the user and the heating coil can be applied to the end oia cigar or cigarette to ignite the same.

In the event that the bimetallic latches 38-38 become inoperative, it ismerely necessary to remove the igniting unit from the holding device asthough it were to be used, and, after unscrewing the heating unit fromthe portion 21 of the igniting unit body, the damaged heating elementmay be discarded and a new one substituted therefor.

Even in such cases where the heating element is not removable from thebody portion 01! the igniting unit, the provision or the heat-responsivelatches on the igniting unit is advantageous over the prior proposalswhere latches were carried by the holding device. For, in case theheat-responsive latch should become inoperative, it would not benecessary to disconnect the holding device, either electrically andmechanically,irom the instrument board, but merely necessary to discardthe igniting unit and substitute a new one having the thermostaticelement in proper working order.

In the use of the device, it may be, that due to delay in theapplication 01 the heating element to the cigar end, the iormer is notsumcientiy incandescent to ignite the cigar; yet, the thermostaticlatches 39 may not have returned to gripping or latching position. Topermit the user to again cause the heating element to becomeincandescent or to bring it to a higher degree of incandescence than iscontrolled by the thermostatic latches 3!, the cooperating contacts 35on the holding device and 34 on the heating element may be made toengage independently oi the thermostatic latch 39 by the operatorholding the igniting unit in energizing position by hand.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions oi the improvements'may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is:-

1. In a cigar-lighter, a base member; an igniting unit normallysupported on but completely removable from the base member for use; aheating element mounted on the igniting unit for convenient removal. andreplacement; a circuit (or conducting current to said heating element;manually operable means for closing said circuit to the heating element;and means carried by the removable heating element in permanentassociation therewith and responsive to the temperature oi the heatingelement for opening said circuit.

2. In a device of the class described, a base member; an igniting unitsupported on said base member for complete separation and removal ioruse; an electrical heating coil on said unit; means for moving said unitto an energizing position in which said coil is energized; means tendingto withdraw said unit from said energizing posi-- tion; and athermostatic element carried by and permanently associated with theigniting unit and responsive to the heating of said coil for controllingthe action of said withdrawing means.

3. In a device of the class dmcribed, a base member; a plug supported onsaid base member for complete removal for use; an electrical heatingcoil on said plug; means for moving said plug to an energizing positionin which said coll is'energized; means tending to withdraw said plugfrom said energizing position; and a thermostatic element in permanentmetallic and 618C? trical engagement with said heating coil and re- [Iing a latch portion formed on the end thereof.

5. In a heating element for cigar lighters having an igniting unit ofthe type removable from a holding device for use; a support providedwith a hand grip at one end; a resistance coil mounted on the support; abimetallic strip carried by the support and permanently secured inheatconducting relation with the resistance coil and having a latchportion formed on the end thereof; and means carried by the support formounting the heating element on an igniting unit and removing the Sametherefrom by hand without the use of tools.

6. In a cigar lighter, a base member; an igniting unit normallysupported on and completely removable from the base member for use, saidigniting unit being adapted to be disassociated from the base member andassociated with another like base member; a heating element carried onthe igniting unit; a circuit for conducting current to said heatingelement including a cooperating contact means on the base and ignitingunit adapted to be engaged when it is desired to bring the heatingelement to incandescence for use; and cooperating means on the ignitingunit and the base member to maintain the circuit closed until theheating element has been brought to incandescence, said last-named meansincluding a heat-responsive latch carried by the igniting unit inpermanent association with the heating element and arranged to open thecircuit through the heating element when the latter attains apredetermined temperature regardless of the particular base member withwhich the igniting unit at that time is associated.

'7. In a cigar lighter, a base member; an igniting unit normallysupported on but completely removable from the base member for use; aheating element mounted on the igniting unit; a circuit for conductingcurrent to said heating element; manually operable means for closingsaid circuit to the heating element; and means carried by the heatingelement in permanent association therewith responsive to the temperatureof the heating element for opening the circuit.

8. A manually operable igniting unit comprising an elongated body havinga heating element mounted on one end thereof and a bimetallic latchmeans clamped between the end of the body member and heating element andin heat-conducting relation with the heating element and extendingforwardly thereof for engagement with a contact for completing a circuitthrough that element.

' ARTHUR A. JOHNSON.

